Clyde Gates has message for Miami Dolphins fans: Believe

According to Gates, B.I.M. is a acronym he and his childhood and college friends used when they did anything impressive.

Say someone hits a big shot in a hoops game (Gates played hoops before switching to football in college), or produced a big play on the football field.

After the achievement the person would say: “BIM.”

The three letters stand for “Believe in Me.”

Gates is flipping it slightly with the goal of encouraging Miami Dolphins fans to “Believe in Miami.”

“I totally understand the fan’s perspective on everything,” Gates said when asked about the Dolphins’ turbulent offseason, which featured former head coach Tony Sparano and his staff being replaced, Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall being traded to Chicago, and safety Yeremiah Bell, a team captain and Miami’s leading tackler the past four seasons, being released.

“South Florida’s got a lot of passionate fans. There are ups and down in this game. In my heart I BELIEVE this is going to be a good season for us,” Gates said. “I believe we’ll turn it around and win. I believe in Miami.”

Gates has already distributed some of his B.I.M. shirts to his teammates, and he’s started giving them to fans. Next week he hopes to have the term trademarked. Gates plans to have more BIM shirts made and intends on distributing them at South Florida locations he’ll announce on his twitter account @EdmondGates.

He’s also taking orders at EDG06B@yahoo.com.

The “Believe in Me” aspect of the B.I.M. movement is especially fitting for Gates’ situation with the Dolphins considering the team’s 2011 fourth-round pick is expected to compete for a prominent role as a front line receiver.

Last year the former Abeline Christian standout, who was the fastest receiver in the 2011 draft after running a 4.31 40-time, primarily served as Miami’s kickoff returner. He averaged 24.8 yards per kickoffs.

But as a receiver Gates played sparingly, contributing just two passes for 19 yards. This offseason he’s competing for one of the starting spots Marshall’s exit and a new coaching staff creates.

Considering Gates is one of the few receivers on the roster who has the ability stretch the field with his speed, it is likely he’ll gain a more prominent role if he picks up the west coast offense quick.

“I’m ready,” Gates said. “I’m not really big into saying I’m going to do this and that, but believe in me.

“I’m finally healthy. I played all of last season with a torn groin. I fought through it, but now I’m ready,” said Gates, who caught 66 passes for 1,182 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in his senior season at Abilene Christian, a Division II school which also produced Bengals tailback Bernard Scott and Bears receiver Johnny Knox. “I hope I get all of South Florida moving with me.”